The devil of course, is the perceived polluting coal-fired power plants that are mulled to be erected in Mindanao to address the looming power shortage on the island. To be sure, Mindanao is not stuck up solely on coal plants. There are lesser “devils” around like the planned 50 MW Mindanao 3 geothermal plant project of Energy Development Corporation (PSE:EDC), which doesn’t sit well with environmentalists due to its proximity to the Mt. Apo National Park, and a 42-MW hydro project in Davao which has also attracted some opposition from locals.
The deep blue sea is more like pitch darkness due to expected brownouts if none of these projects could take off on time due to local opposition. The year of reckoning is pegged in 2015 by the Department of Energy when power demand completely outstrips supply assuming a conservative power growth of 3 % per annum, and the committed power projects are on track.
The reign of darkness could come earlier by 2012 if one or two of the bigger power projects are derailed. Or if big power-hungry projects like Hanjin’s shipbuilding facilities in Misamis Oriental and big malls come on stream to GenSan and other booming cities in southern Mindanao.
At the same time, the DOE considers this year as critical for the Mindanao power grid with peak demand reaching 1,525 MW.
One of these power projects to help alleviate Mindanao’s power shortage is the recently unveiled 200-MW coal-fired power plant to be built in Sarangani province by the Alcantara-led Conal Holdings Corp. at a cost of $450 million. The proponent claims that the plant is “on track” to operate in three years despite that fact that it is still in the development stage.
Conal Holdings is backed by the Electricity Generating Corporation (EGCO), one of the largest generating companies in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
The plants would be built in two stages: Stage 1 comprises a 100-MW unit and the whole facilities for the power station complex, while Stage 2 would be the second 100-MW unit which would be constructed within 24 months after the commencement of operations of the first unit. The second unit is targeted to be completed in 2014.
If coal plants are considered dirty, then why are these preferred by investor- developers?
Compared to other types of generating plants like hydro or geothermal, coal plants have the shortest time of completion, and theoretically, one could erect them just about everywhere. The fuel is not a problem since one could just get it from the open market.
Mindanao is no stranger to coal plants. The speed in which coal plants can be constructed if so desired is best exemplified by the record completion of the 232-MW STEAG coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental, a significant control of which has now been acquired by the Aboitiz group.
The apparent choice of coal is of course dictated in the end by economics. But with not much choice considering the looming crisis, Mindanao may not have much choice but must make a pact with the devil.
Or the people there may have to consider coal plants not the devil himself, but a fallen angel with some hope for redemption. The choice is easily made if one looks at the other side and sees nothing but an abyss of darkness.
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